Floribunda rose plant named ‘Poulcas024’

ABSTRACT

A new garden rose plant of the floribunda class which has abundant, pink blend flowers and attractive foliage. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Poulcas024’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of garden rose plant which originated from a controlled crossing between the female seed parent, an unnamed seedling, and the male pollen parent ‘Poulcs007’, a variety created by the same inventor described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,161.

The two parents were crossed during the summer of 1995 and the resulting seeds were planted in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark. The new variety, named ‘Poulcas024’, originated as a single seedling from the stated cross.

The new variety may be distinguished from its female seed parent by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The seed parent has 40 to 45 petals. ‘Poulcas024’ has 300 to         315 petals.     -   2. Flowers of the seed parent have a general tonality of Red         Group 47C, while flowers of ‘Poulcas024’ are Red Group 49A to         49B with intonations of Red Group 52C.

The new variety may be distinguished from its male pollen parent by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The pollen parent has 75 to 80 petals. ‘Poulcas024’ has 300         to 315 petals.     -   2. Flowers of the pollen parent have a general tonality of Red         Group 49B, while flowers of ‘Poulcas024’ are Red Group 49A to         49B with intonations of Red Group 52C.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety was to create a new and distinct variety for garden use with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Uniform and abundant pink blend flowers;     -   2. Vigorous, but compact growth when propagated both as a budded         rose and on its own roots;     -   3. Exceptional disease resistance.

This combination of qualities is not present in previously available commercial cultivars of this type, known to the inventors, and distinguish ‘Poulcas024’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of the rose development program, Mogens N. Olesen germinated the seeds from the aforementioned hybridization during winter of 1995 and conducted evaluations on the resulting seedlings in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark. ‘Poulcas024’ was selected in the spring of 1996 by the inventor as a single plant from the progeny of the aforementioned hybridization.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Poulcas024’ by traditional budding and rooted cuttings was first done by Mogens N. Olesen in the nursery in Fredensborg, Denmark in July, 1996. This initial and other subsequent asexual propagation conducted in controlled environments have demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘Poulcas024’ are true to type and are transmitted from one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typical characteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems, of ‘Poulcas024’. Specifically illustrated in the drawing are:

FIG. 1.1; Cluster of flower buds partially opened showing attachment of leaves and pedicels;

FIG. 1.2; Open flower;

FIG. 1.3; Sepals, receptacle, and peduncle;

FIG. 1.4; Flower petals, detached;

FIG. 2.1; Mature leaves;

FIG. 2.2; Bare stems exhibiting thorns;

FIG. 3.1 Juvenile leaf, underside;

FIG. 3.2 Juvenile leaf, upper side;

FIG. 3.3 Juvenile stem and leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of ‘Poulcas024’, as observed in its growth in a field nursery in Jackson County, Oreg. Observed plants are 3 years of age, and were grown on Rosa multiflora understock. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001, except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety ‘Pouldron’, described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,923 dated May 25, 1999 are compared to ‘Poulcas024’ in Chart 1.

CHART 1 ‘Poulcas024’ ‘Pouldron’ Petal Count 300-315 44 to 58 Flower Diameter 40 mm 70-85 mm General Tonality 49A to 49B with intonations 49B to 39D of Flower Color of 52C

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Continuous. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 22 mm in length from base of receptacle             to end of bud. Bud diameter is 14 mm.         -   Bud form.—Urceolate with pointed apex.         -   Bud color.—As sepals begin to unfold, petals are Greyed-Red             Group 180B to Red Group 39B with intonations of Red Group             46A. As sepals further unfold, petals are Greyed-Red 179C             with intonations of Greyed-Red Group 180C and Red Group 48A.         -   Sepal inner surface.—Color: Green Group 138B. Anthocyanic             pigments Greyed-Purple Group 183B to Greyed-Purple Group             184A. Surface: Weak pubescence observed.         -   Sepal outer surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A.             Texture: Somewhat rough with many stipitate glands.         -   Sepal shape.—Apex: Cirrhose. Base: Flat at union with             receptacle.         -   Sepal margin.—Margins have weak foliaceous appendages on             three of the five sepals.         -   Sepal size.—Normally 25 mm long by 6 mm wide.         -   Receptacle.—Texture: Smooth pubescent. Stipitate glands             observed in light quantity. Shape: Funnel shaped. Size: 9 mm             (h)×9 mm (w). Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Peduncle.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Surface: Smooth             with thorns. Length: 3 to 4 cm. Diameter: 4 mm.         -   Pedicel.—Surface: Very rough with stipitate glands. Length:             40 to 45 mm on average. Diameter: 2.5 mm on average. Color:             Yellow-Green Group 144B. Anthocyanic pigments the color of             Orange Group 175A observed. Strength: Strong. Scent:             Stipitate glands release a strong fruity scent. -   Flower bud development: Flower buds are borne singularly and in     clusters of 5 buds per flowering stem. Inflorescence type: Panicle. -   Flower bloom:     -   -   Fragrance.—Medium rose scent.         -   Duration.—The blooms have a duration on the plant of             approximately 14 to 21 days. Petals do not fall cleanly away             from plant after flowers have fully matured.         -   Size.—Flower diameter is 40 mm when open. Flower depth is 26             mm.         -   Flower shape.—General shape is a globular until flowers are             fully mature. Afterward, flowers resemble a rosette with             many overlapping petals, packed into numerous sections.         -   Shape of flower, side view.—Upon opening the upper portion             is convex. The lower portion is flat. After opening, the             upper portion is convex. The lower portion is concave. -   Petalage: Under normal conditions, flowers have 300 to 315 petals     total, 45 of which are petaloids. -   Petal color:     -   -   Upon opening, outermost petals.—Upper surface: Greyed-Orange             Group N170B with intonations of Orange-Red Group 35B. Light             intonations of Yellow-Green Group 145B throughout the petal.             Lower surface: Red Group 49A to Greyed-Red Group 182B and             182C with intonations of Yellow-Green Group 145B.         -   Upon opening, inner petals.—Upper surface: Red Group 43D to             41D with intonations of Orange-Red Group 32D toward petal             base. Lower surface: Red Group 49A to 49B with intonations             of Red Group 49D.         -   Basal petal spots, upon opening.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green             Group 145C to 145D. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group 145D.         -   After opening, outer petals.—Upper surface: Red Group 49A.             Lower surface: Red Group 55B to 54C with streaking and light             intonations the color of Red Group 49B.         -   After opening, inner petals.—Upper surface: Red Group 38B to             36B with light intonations of Orange Group 29B. Lower             surface: Red Group 39C to 39D to Red Group 49B.         -   Basal petal spots, after opening.—Upper surface: Yellow             Group 4B. Lower surface: Yellow Group 4C. -   General tonality: On open flower Red Group 49A to 49B with     intonations of Red Group 52C. -   Petals:     -   -   Petal reflex.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire with occasional point at the center of the             margin. Weak undulations of margin observed.         -   Shape.—Generally narrow elliptical. Apex shape: Rounded.             Base shape: Acute.         -   Size.—Outer petals: 30 mm (l)×25 mm (w). Inner petals: 17 mm             (l)×11 mm (w). Petal size progressively decreases toward the             flower center.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Thickness.—Average.         -   Arrangement.—Not Formal. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Quantity.—45 on average.         -   Size.—10 mm (l)×6 mm (w).         -   Shape.—Narrow elliptical with acute apex. Petaloids are             sometimes irregular with highly undulated margins.         -   Color.—Upper: Red Group 38B to 36B. Lower: Red Group 39C to             39D to 49B.         -   Color variation.—Some petaloids have distinct coloration             with an upper surface the color of Red Group 34A. Lower             surface is Red Group 40A to 41B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pollen.—None observed.         -   Anthers.—Size: 2 mm in length. Color: Yellow-Orange Group             18A to B. Quantity: Normally 30.         -   Filaments.—Color: Yellow Group 1A. Length: 5 mm.         -   Pistils.—Length: 12 mm. Quantity: 75 to 80.         -   Stigmas.—Very superior in location relative to the length of             the filaments and the height of the anthers. Color:             Yellow-Green Group 145C to 145D.         -   Styles.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 145C to 145D.         -   Hips.—None Observed in the field nursery in Jackson County             Oreg.

PLANT

-   Plant growth: Moderate, upright to bushy. When grown as a budded     field grown plant on Rosa multiflora understock, the average height     of the plant is 60 to 100 cm and the average width is 50 to 60 cm. -   Stems:     -   -   Color.—Juvenile growth: Yellow-Green Group 146C. Mature             growth: Yellow-Green Group 146B.         -   Length.—On average, canes are 23 cm from the base of the             plant to the flowering portion.         -   Diameter.—5 mm.         -   Internodes.—On mature canes, there is an average distance of             22 mm between nodes.         -   Surface texture.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth. -   Thorns:     -   -   Incidence.—11 thorns per 10 cm of stem.         -   Size.—Average length of thorns on mature stems is 4 to 5 mm.         -   Shape.—Upper side: Flat. Lower side: Concave.         -   Color.—Juvenile thorns: Greyed-Yellow Group 160B to             Yellow-Green Group 145B. Mature thorns: Greyed-Yellow Group             160A with intonations of Yellow-Green Group 144C. -   Plant foliage: Normal number of leaflets leaves in middle of stem: 7     leaflets.     -   -   Compound leaf.—90 to 105 mm in length by 60 to 70 mm wide.         -   Quantity.—4 leaves per 10 cm of stem on average.         -   Color of mature foliage.—Upper side: Yellow-Green Group             147A. Lower side: Yellow-Green Group 147B.         -   Color of juvenile foliage.—Upper side: Yellow-Green Group             144A. Lower side: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Anthocyanic             intonations: Greyed-Orange Group 166A to 166B. Location:             Generalized and at the margins. -   Plant leaves and leaflets:     -   -   Stipules.—Size: 10 to 14 mm in length. Shape: Linear,             slightly broad based with outward extending apecies.             Margins: Finely serrated with stipitate glands. Color:             Yellow-Green Group 146A.         -   Petiole.—Length: 15 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Upper surface:             Color: Yellow-Green Group 146A. Observations: Few stipitate             glands on the upper margins. Lower surface: Color:             Yellow-Green Group 146C. Observations: Small prickles.         -   Rachis.—Length: 50 mm on average. Upper surface: Color:             Yellow-Green Group 146A. Observations: Few stipitate glands.             Lower surface: Color: Yellow-Green Group 146C. Observations:             Few small prickles.         -   Leaflet.—Edge: Doubly serrated. Size: Average size of the             terminal leaflet on normal leaves is 40 to 45 in length by             25 to 28 mm wide. Shape: Generally elliptical. Base:             Acuminate. Apex: Acuminate to mucronate.         -   Texture.—Smooth. Thickness: Average. Arrangement: Odd             pinnate. Venation: Reticulate. Glossiness: Moderate glossy. -   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to downy and powdery     mildew, rust, black spot, and Botrytis under normal growing     conditions in Jackson County, Oreg. -   Cold hardiness: The variety is tolerant to USDA Cold Hardiness Zone     6. -   Heat tolerance: The variety has been found to be suitable for     climate conditions found in the American Horticulture Society heat     zone 7. 

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the floribunda rose class named ‘Poulcas024’, illustrated and described herein, due to its abundant pink blend flowers, disease resistance, and extended period of bloom. 